Ventilator thimble



Nov. 20, 1928; 1,692,775

H. S. HART VENTILATOR THIMBLE INVENTOR 6&5. gem

, ATTORN EYS Nov. 20, 19231 v 1,692,775

, H. $.-HART VENTILA'IOR THIMBLE Filfid May 24, 1928 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES HO'WARD S.

PATENT oFFicE- I if, OF NEV BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNGH TI) THE HART 6c COOLEY MAN UFACIURING CO'MPANY, OF NEVJ BRETAIN, CONNECTICUT, 1i.

PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

vnnrrtaron THIMBLE.

Application filed May 24,

My invention relates to so called ventilating thimbles, such devices being used as linings to span the space in the wall between a ceiling-and the overlying floor or" a building in which wall a passage is desired for ventilating or heating pu poses.

The object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and compact structure, which may be economically manufactured, and which may be easily installed by one man, and which is extensible so as to be adaptable to walls of diiterent thicknesses. These and other advantages will be apparent to a mechanic skilled in the art from a reading of the following description and an examination of the accompanying drawin 's, in which- F 1 is a sectional view of my invention as it would appear in use in a wall opening of a given thickness;

Fig. 2 is similar view, the wall being of less thickness than that shown in Fig. 1, and o e element of the thimble construction being shown as only partly in place.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the thimble construction as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of a detail.

Describing the structure particularly shown in the drawings which represent one preferred form of my invention, it will be seen that the thimble construction comprises the following parts; 1 is a rectangular thimble section of tin or the like, which section is provided with an outwardly directed flange 2 at its lower edge. 3 represents a second rectangular thimble section, which is sufficiently large to slide over the section 1. The overall height of the sections 1 and 3 is approXi-- mately the same. The sections 13 are preferably connected together by 'means of springs &4. The lower end of each spring 4 is secured in any desired way to the lower section 1 (or the flange 2 thereof) as indicated at 5 (Fig. 3). The upper end of each spring- 4 is suitably connected as at 6 to the upper thimble section 3. Thesesprings are prefer ably arranged at the opposite outer sides of the two thinible sections 13. are strips of thin metal, such as tin, the same being secured to the upper thimble section 3. 8 represents what I will term an adapter thimble section, the same being designed for use when the thimble sections 13 are not of suilicient over-all length, when extended, to

1928 Serial No. 280,140.

fully cover the space between the ceiling and floor. 9 represents the ceiling of a room, 10 represents the floor of an overhead room. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the space between the ceiling-'9 and floor 10 is greater than the space between the ceiling 9 and tloor10,'as shown in Fig. 2,

I will first described my improved thimble as applied. to a wall opening such as indicated in Figs. 1 and The adapter section 8 is first removed. The two sections 13, which are now fully overlapped under the action of the springs & 1, are next passed through the wall opening from above and then turned into position so that the flange 2 will rest against the underside of the ceiling 9. The workman then grasps the two strips 7? and pulls upwardly on the same. This causes section 8 to slide up into the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, wherein the lower edge of the section 3 only slightly overlaps the upper edge of the section 1. When in this position, the ends of the strips 77 are nailed to the floor 10, the nails being indicated at l111-.' The adapter sleeve 8 is then inserted into the floor opening until its flange 8 rests on the floor. The length of the adapter section is preferably such that when the same is 1n place the lower edge thereoi 'will slide slightly over the upper edge of the upper thimble section'3, as indicated in the aforev said 1 and 3. In this manner, the floor opening is provided with the proper lining so that hot or cold air will not be wasted by being permitted to pass into the space between the ceiling and the floor. 12 represents a con ventional floor register, which may he placed in the upper end of the thir'nble so as to rest:

on the floor 10 in the customary manner. 13' represents a conventional so called grid,

which may be suitably attached in any well known way to the lower section 1 so as to givei a proper finish to the opening in the ceiling. The particular form of register or grid employed is entirely immaterial, but the same has been illustratedin Figs. 1 and 3 simply to show the general appearance ofthe finished structure when in use.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a wall opening in which the space between the ceiling 9 and floor 10 is considerably less than the space between the ceiling and floor in Figs. 1 and 3. Here it will be noted that the sections 13 are in themselves perhaps suflicient when extended I to adequately cover the space between said ceiling and floor. In this case the adapter sleeve 8 may or may not be used as desired. In this case it will be seen that the strips 77 have a superfluous length which may be snipped off just back of the nails 11'--11 so that the ends of said strips will not protrude beyond the edge of a register 12 when the latter is in place. In all instances it will be noted that the springs 4 operate to exert a strain on the lower thimble section 1 so that the flange 2 will rest snugly and uniformly against the ceiling so as to hold the finishing gridwhen applied properly in place. The

' height of each of the thimble sections 1, 3 and 8 should preferably approximately correspond so that when the same are collapsed they will occupy a minimum space, thus facilitating packing and transportation. It will be noted that in the preferred construction 1 the adapter sleeve 8 slides inside of the section 3, and that there is sufficient clearance between the lower thimble section 1 and the section 3 so that said adapter sleeve can slide through said space and onto the outer side of the'section 1 thus facilitating the aforesaid compact nesting of the three sections when the same are.

to be packed and shipped. By placing the spring means 4 on the outer side of the thimble, this methodlof compact assembly is made possible.

What I claim is 1; A ventilating thimble comprising a lower thimble section, a flange'carried thereby foneng aging the surface of a surrounding wall, an upper thimble section slidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw said sections toward each other, with means carried by said upper section for withdrawing the same from the first section. and

increasing the tension of the spring means.

i by for engaging the surface of a surrounding drawing the same from the first section and wall, an upper thimble section slidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw said sections toward each other, with means carried by saidiupper section for with.-

increasing the tension of the spring means and for holding sald upper section in said position, said spring means being located externally of said sections.

3. A ventilating thimble comprising a lower thimble section, a flange carried thereby for engaging the surface of a surrounding wall, an upper thimble section slidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw said sections toward each other, with means carried by said upper section for withdrawing the same from the first section and increasing" the tension of the spring means and for holding said upper section in said position, said means comprising strips at opposite edges of said upper section.

4. A ventilating thimble comprising a lower thimble section, a flange carried thereby for engaging the surface of a surrounding wall, an upper thimble sectionslidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw saidsections toward each other, with means carried by said upper section for withdrawing the same from the first section and increasing the tcnsion of the spring means and for holding said upper section in said posi tion, and an adapter section telescopically fitting the upper section.

5. A ventilating thimble comprising a lower thimble section, a flange carried thereby for engaging the surface of asurrounding wall, an upper thimblesection slidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw said sections toward each other, with means carried by said upper sectionfor witl'idrawing the same from the first section and increasing the tension of the spring means and for holding said upper section in said position, and-an.

adapter sleeve section telescopically fitting the upper and lower sections.

6. A ventilating thimble comprising a lower thimble section, a flange carried thereby for engaging the surface of a surrounding wall, an upper thimble section slidable on the lower thimble section, spring means serving to draw said sections toward each other, with means,

carried by said upper section forwithdrawing the same from the first section and increasing the tension of the spring. means and: for hold-i ing said upper section in said position, and. an

adapter sleeve section telescopically fitting the upper and lower sections and slidable between the same.

' HOWARD sinner. 

